Boston GP-163PE or Yamaha C1

[robin65]

I am buying my daughter a piano and both of these are rated as professional grade and are similarly priced $20K for the Yamaha and $22K for the Boston. 

Is one superior to the other?  My daughter is being trained classically but is now taking on Rag and Pop but she always goes back to classical music.

Also I looked at the GC1 and the Hailun 5" 4" models that are about $8K cheaper.  Are these pianos that much better?

[pbryld]

Why not buy something used that is ten times better?

[robin65]

What would be 10 times better and in the same price range?  I live in the frozen north.  Alberta Canada.  There is not much in the way of used and even harder when you don't know what you are looking for.  I cannot go any larger than 5' 4" as I don't have the space. 

[keys60]

Boston is designed by Steinway and made by Kawai. It is definitely not a Steinway, however, it is an average ok piano. I would prefer the Yamaha myself, but at that size, you won't get much bass. The action will still be nice.
I would agree with pbryid at least to the fact that if you're willing to shell out that kink of money, there are so many more options in the restored category. I understand that size is an issue. I'm also not familiar with the tundra way up there and what's available.
I would look for:

Steinway S at 5 ft. Model M if you can stretch to 5'7"  
Knabe's made 5'3" and 5'4"
Mason Hamlin, Chickering, Baldwin, Weber, Steck, Sohmer and a host of others that I would consider if it were a complete restoration.
20K sounds a bit much for the Yamaha. That's list price. Offer 25 to 30% less and be prepared to walk. Play hardball. The markup on pianos is huge. 200-300%. Deservedly too. Really, how many pianos get sold as opposed to cars. Hardly any, so the markup has to be huge just to survive.
Take your time and do it right. You will not regret it.
Just in case you don't know of what's around, click the following link.

https://www.pianoinfo.ca/Stores/index.asp?province=AB

[dedilya]

10 times better is a very strong definition. Yamaha C is a very good piano if you like the sound (bright) and touch (light). I have Boston GP 163 for 3 years and absolutely love its mellow bases, singing trebles and beautiful tenors. Touch is firm enough. Read Larry Fine Piano Book about differences Boston and Kawai (good piano as well). When you buy an older piano you never know how it was kept... But you need take care of your piano. Ask your technician to install the climate control under the sound board and keep good humidifier in the room. I am not sure about how humid is summer in your area, but good range is 45-55% relative humidity and you Boston will blossom. Good luck

[pianolive]

I would say there is no big difference which one you buy - let your daughter play the pianos and decide the piano she wants.

It is great that you buy a new piano! Your dauhgter will get a piano that works, and you do not have to worry about all the problems you can get if you buy an old one. Maybe in time though, she might want a better sound.

[richard black]

To be honest I don't much care for either, but I take your point about choice where you live. In that case, I would certainly go for the Yamaha. The Boston's I've encountered (a lot of them, I play a lot of pianos in a year) show worryingly common signs of sloppy quality control.

[dedilya]

could you please be more specific on signs of bad quality control?

[richard black]

could you please be more specific on signs of bad quality control?

By far the most common is screws in the action working loose. I can't count how many I've had to tighten. As a one-time engineer and a regular cyclist I tend to carry a multi-blade screwdriver with me and it gets plenty of use on pianos!

[pianolive]

Now, screws in wood will get loose because of changes in humidity. I do not think this is a quality problem.

The very first Boston uprights, that came on the market, could sometimes have problems with loose capstan screws, probably because the holes were drilled too big, so the capstans slided down, so to speak.

[dedilya]

These are valid points. According to Larry Fine book some uprights are made in Japan, some in America. Since we are talking about baby grand, which are all made in Japan, quality control should be fine. I respect Yamaha as a brand: everything depends on personal preferences of touch and sound. Thanks for the clarification

[richard black]

screws in wood will get loose because of changes in humidity.

Fair point, but:

1) The screws I end up tightening are through wood but into metal (practically all the rails in Bostons, like most mass-market pianos, are aluminium);

2) The problem seems much rarer on Yamahas and other mid-range pianos. And by contrast I can't remember a single action screw coming loose in the Ibach upright I bought brand new 25 years ago and still own.

And I probably play more grand than vertical Bostons.

Brand new, I would probably prefer a Boston, incidentally.

[hbofinger]

Back to the discussion:

1. For 22k you can get a lot of piano. I just set up a deal for 21k on a 1970 Yamaha C-7 that has been rebuild in Japan. The instrument is like new, has a great warranty, and my technician basically said "go for it!" The work that has been done is so extensive I have to break it in again (tight bushings in the action).

2. Pianos differ so much from one to the next it is really what you like in a particular instrument that you need to go for. Case in point: I am a former Bösendorfer owner, loved the instrument I sold about 10 years ago. Now I looked at one that simply, in the end, stunk, and went for the Yamaha instead, at a lower price.

3. Pianos age and change. A new piano often will not tell you what it will be like in three or five years. A three or five year old piano will more likely tell you what it will be like for the next 15 to 20 years or more, if it is a good one.

I'd say look around, and don't be afraid of "problems" with a used one. If you see something you like, have an independent technician check it out.

Good luck!

[jimbo320]

Hey Robin,
Between the two you mentioned for sure the C1. If the sound is an issue adjustment to the action takes care of that. I would replace the strings if it were me...